Katy Perry defeats conformism and 200 million fans cheer

Like many of you, in recent weeks I’ve been totally consumed with Katy Perry’s “Firework” video Why?.

First off, the song is up tempo and has fireworks, which are fun.

Second, some of these fireworks are shown spewing from Perry’s upper torso — and you don’t see that every day.

Third, Katy’s personal fireworks are infectious; they inspire all the downtrodden misfits throughout the land to cast off the chains of depression and conformity. Last, but most importantly — the lyrics of the song:

You don’t have to feel like a waste of space, you’re original — can’t be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow.

That’s tremendous advice which I’ll try to keep in mind this summer.

In sum, Perry urges us to ignite that unique voice within and let it guide us through the darkness to wonderful new experiences like (a gay kiss in a crowd, and tricking muggers with magic).

Now, I hate to be the stinkbug in the punchbowl, but I’m compelled to point out that the final scene in Perry’s video – where all the non-comformists congregate in the town square and shoot fireworks together — parallels the end of Duran Duran’s “New Moon on Monday” video. I never, EVER thought I’d see the day when someone lifted a scene (any scene!) from Duran Duran’s raucously ludicrous “New Moon” vid, but it seems even this has also come to pass. There really is nothing new under the sun (or moon, apparently).

Duran Duran defeated totalitarianism with a roman candle party in the middle of a town, and Katy Perry defeats conformism using the same strategy. Perhaps it worked. Two hundred million viewers can’t be wrong.

Mark Moseley blogs at Your Right Hand Thief. Until mid 2014, Mark Moseley was The Lens' opinion writer, engagement specialist and coordinator for the Charter Schools Reporting Corps. After Katrina and the Federal Flood he helped create the Rising Tide conference, which grew into an annual social media event dedicated to the future of New Orleans.